Tag Archives: York

United Kingdom

York: Melvin The Grate a likely improver

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3.05 York: Handicap, Class 2, 1m

As competitive and wide open as it gets, but I like the big price for Melvin The Grate. Surely still an improving individual, he has to show further improvement to feature, but may well do second time out after a break. He ran well at Sandown last month, travelling well throughout.

But this here today will suit better. He needs a fast pace, which is guaranteed, and he won’t mind any soft in the going description. His mark off 95 and light weight gives him a good chance to feature.

Melvin The Grate @ 25/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

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8.00 Lingfield: Class 6 Handicap, 1m 2f

Freshly gelded Steevo could be overpriced here. He’s seems a pretty tricky customer, who won a 7f Handicap on the All-Weather last year, a form which works out well. He came back this season with a decent 3rd at Bath over 1m but seemed awkward and one-paced. The next time over 9f at Lingfield he was pulling all the way throughout the race, running his race before it really started.

That could happen here over 10f again. But he may have learned from this last outing and settle better. He can get the trip as there is plenty of stamina on the dam side. The gelding op should help him to be more relaxed now and if that is the case he can go close here off a low enough mark with a goof 5lb claimer in the saddle.

Steevo @ 16/1 Betfred – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Sea Calisi the joker in open Yorkshire Oaks

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3.40 York: Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1), 1m 4f

Plenty of these fillies have ran against each other this year. They share more or less similar form. it seems, whoever turns up on the day, wins it. Says, I can’t have Covert Love at all at 3/1. She is the favourite after her excellent Irish Oaks win, but let’s be honest, she has had the run of the race at the Curragh. But does that make her twice as good as Curvy? No. No way.

However it is the French filly Sea Calisi who intrigues me most and who is potentially a big price at 9/1. She was late foal, born in May, is still lightly raced, pretty unexposed and comes here after an impressive Group 2 success at Saint-cloud. She should be primed for this and won’t mind the ground.

Sea Calisi @ 9/1 Betfred – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Mujassam bound for a big run

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5.10 York: Nursery, Class 3, 5f

Astley Hall looks overpriced here if he could find back to the form he showed on his impressive debut run. That day he looked extremely green throughout, completely messing up the start but still was overcame that all to win well in a decent maiden.

He was disappointing in his two starts subsequently, but now dropped down to 5f again on quick ground should help on his nursery debut. An opening mark off 77 doesn’t look impossible.

He has been gelded since his last run There are positive sire stats for this kind of procedure and Richard Fahey often gets it right if it comes to geldings.

Astley Hall @ 16/1 Sportingbet – 5pts Win

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8.15 Salisbury: Handicap, Class 4, 7f

Roger Varian has only one runner at Salisbury today and that looks significant. His Mujassam is an intriguing contender, dropping in class off a lowered mark with ground likely in his favour. He didn’t show too much in two starts this year but remains with potential.

A gelding now, this may help him to focus a bit better on his racing too. Kyllachy’s often improve as geldings and Varian has a positive track record for first time geldings too. He could go well tonight.

Mujassam @ 13/2 Betfred – 5pts Win

Global Racing

Saturday’s Racing: On The Hunt For Winners

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Newmarket Rowley Mile tight finish

2.20 Sandown: Class 2 Handicap, 1m

Whether some of the more lightly raced individuals can improve to a level that’ll see them going close is debatable, but the very much in-form Jacob Black is sure to have a prime chance once again.

The four year old is getting better with every race, and after getting close in a hot Newmarket Handicap on his seasonal debut, he made all to win here at Sandown a fortnight ago. The winning margin was tight in the end but Jacob Black got a bit lonely in front inside the final furlong and was actually eased down towards the end. He had still a bit in hand.

The Handicapper has given him a chance to prove his class and raised his mark by only 3lb. He may not be able to dictate this bigger field as he did the last time, but he has a good draw and should be in an ideal position when it matters.

Jacob Black @ 6/1 Bet365 – 5pts Win

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2.45 Navan: Handicap (60-95), 6f

Quick ground is a rarity in Ireland so there isn’t too much fast ground form on offer in this field. However Lily’s Prince is sure to appreciate the underfoot conditions. She has been it pretty good form in recent weeks. A fine success at Cork, followed up with a sixth place in a hot Tipperary sprint.

On paper this last performance doesn’t look inspiring, but the drop to 5f wasn’t suitable and she lost something at the start. She appeared dangerous briefly from 2f out but was found out for speed eventually. This slightly longer trip is what she needs, and with conditions to suit, she may have still a bit to offer from her current mark in an open enough affair.

Lily’s Prince @ 10/1 Betfred – 5pts Win

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3.10 York: Ganton Stakes (Listed)

The race evolves around the question whether Wannabe Yours is 100% today and if he’s improved from three to four. Last years form is outstanding and gives him a leading chance no doubt. 3/1 looks tempting I admit, but with these question marks flying around I do opt for the form horse at twice the price.

That’s Lincoln winner Gabrial. Conditions come just right for him today with a bit of rain getting into the ground and his recent 4th in Listed Handicap over course and distance gives him a big chance. That day as top weight he had a really tough task assigned and was just beaten in the closing stages by progressive horses with less weight.

The form works out really well, though and Gabrial should find this here actually a bit easier, given he’s on level weights with his rivals. He is holding his form well and is likely to run his race today – which may be good enough to win.

Gabrial @ 7/1 Bet365 – 5pts Win

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5.25 Chester: Class 3 Handicap, 5f

I agree with the betting here: Bowson Fred is a very worthy favourite and has plenty in favour. Good draw, form and conditions. But the fact that he has gone close in all his recent starts without winning suggest he is vulnerable nonetheless.

In contrast if you can forgive Snow Cloud his recent poor showing, you’ll see a progressive, talented and improved filly. Ripon’s 6f in softish conditions were just not what she wanted but she showed true class on her seasonal debut at Redcar in quick conditions over 5f.

Travelling strongly, and producing a nice turn of foot, she looked to have loads in hand. Judged on that performance she might be still better than her current mark off 81, although this is a tougher race and Chester from draw five is something of an unknown experience to her. If she handles it, she is sure to be a big runner.

Snow Cloud @ 7/1 Coral – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Foreign Diplomat can improve big time!

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Newmarket Rowley Mile pre-parade ring

4.20 York: Handicap (Class 3, 7f)

Some interesting unexposed sorts in this race but none less than William Haggas’ Foreign Diplomat. He was quite costly as a yearling and proved to be talented when placed in three maidens as a juvenile. However it was an ultra impressive display on his seasonal reappearance at Thirsk eleven days ago when he finally got off the mark.

He travelled like a dream, always up with the pace, on the bridle till the final furlong marker. When asked to quicken he did so instantaneously. Maybe this wasn’t the strongest race, but the runner-up has some fair form to his name and Foreign Diplomat couldn’t have been more impressive.

Stepping into handicap company now, he looks not badly handicapped of an opening mark off 81. There could be still a fair bit of improvement to come and the fact that he has been gelded since this last run is quite interesting. Haggas usually seem to know for what types this can work best as he has a 24% strike rate with first time geldings. So this may well contribute to further improvement.

Foreign Diplomat @ 9/2 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Unexposed Field Of Fame a big price at York

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2.10 York: Class 2 Handicap, 1m 2f

This race evolves around the two lightly raced Mahsoob and Field Of Fame. Both met at Newbury last month in a big Handicap, with John Gosden’s Mahsoob having the upper hand in the finish. Though this was not without controversies, as the Dansili son was hanging badly to his left in the closing stages, hampering Field Of Fame badly.

Mahsoob was an impressive winner that day, nonetheless. On only his second career start, he had to overcome the widest draw, used up valuable energy to make a big move on the far outside of the field in the home straight and probably hit the front too soon. Yet he showed class and determination.

Obviously there is potentially much more to come. He’s 8lb higher now which looks rather fair, but has a wide draw to overcome today yet again. That may not stop him, but he is a short 3/1 favourite in this huge field, so I rather feel I have to take him on.

Particularly with Field Of Fame posing an almost similar profile, but is double the price. Trained by Andre Balding, he gets into this race as the feather weight of a mark off 86. This will be only his third career start, after winning a maiden on debut back in 2013. He had a long break afterwards, but that didn’t hinder him to produce a big performance on his return.

He had similarly to Mahsoob a wide draw to overcome in the Newbury race. He travelled extremely well and luckily a gap opened over 2f out. He was in the process to make big progress at the final furlong marker, when the accelerating Mahsoob shifted violently and bumped into him. Field Of Dream could never recover from the impact but finished a fine 3rd nonetheless.

Only 4lb up in the mark for the effort, he is today four pounds better with the favourite and that shouldn’t stop him at all. There could be plenty more to come. He rates a huge chance here at 6/1, which is a good full two points bigger than I would have expected it.

There aren’t too many alternatives in this field. Lack of recent  run, poor form, big handicap marks… not many seem to be well treated today. That says, if the two lightly raced favourites get clear runs, I would duly expect them to fight it out.

Field Of Fame @ 6/1 Sportingbet – 5pts win